Oregano Tea

The tangy taste that lingers on, hours after you've had the last bite of pizza, comes from the oregano seasoning. Oregano herb, is a native of Mediterranean region and central Asia. A widely used herb in Italian and Greek cuisine, its characteristic taste blends well with every food item. Member of the mint family, this herb has been largely used for its medicinal properties, in traditional Chinese medicine. The herb is a good source of iron, vitamin K, manganese, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, oregano tea, is recommended by several practitioners of traditional medicines to treat common cold, congestion and cough.

Oregano Benefits

• The anti-bacterial nature of this herb, helps kill bacteria and cures infections.
• It cures parasitic problems, which benefits digestion.
• It helps in boosting the immune system.
• Improves respiratory system.
• Thymol and carvacrol content in the tea benefits the digestive system.
• It acts as a stimulant and helps reduce fever.
• A warm concoction of oregano tea, helps in relieving muscle spasms. It also eases joint pain and problems.
• Having it while menstruating, relieves lower abdominal cramps too.
• Having a bath with its leaves in warm bath water, helps you relax. It is known to cure insomnia.
• Persons suffering from rheumatism and asthma find relief by sipping some hot tea with honey.

How to Make Tea from Oregano Leaves

Ingredients and Utensils

• Fresh or dried oregano leaves
• 2 cups of water
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Strainer

Procedure

Step 1: As mentioned above, you can make this tea with fresh or dried leaves. Dried oregano is available at any grocery store. On the other hand, if you are making it with fresh leaves, make sure you haven't sprayed any chemicals on them while growing them. If you want to dry oregano at home, hang the oregano bunches out in the sun. Then separate the leaves. While making the tea, cut the fresh leaves, so that they release some oil, which is very beneficial.

Step 2: Boil the water for 10 minutes in a pot on a stove or in a microwave.

Step 3: Add the leaves to the pot. If you have a large quantity of water, make sure, that you increase the amount of leaves too. Steep it on a slow flame to extract the maximum from the leaves. However, the longer you steep it, the concoction is going to get bitter and bitter. So keep tasting it.

Step 4: Once, the mixture has boiled for over 20 minutes, the leaves will get dark. It is your signal that the tea is ready for a sweetener. Since, you are drinking the tea for its medicinal purpose, avoiding adding sugar or any artificial form of sweetener. The best natural form of sugar is honey. So, add about 1 tablespoon of honey to the concoction.

Step 5:Remove the pot from the stove and strain the tea into a mug. Sip the tea hot to derive maximum benefit from it.

The best way of having this tea is to sip it hot and inhaling the hot vapors. It works wonders if you are drinking it for cough. Keep a tissue close to you, as the vapors will loosen out the congested mucus. It shouldn't be used during pregnancy as its regular use is known to reduce the ability to absorb iron. People who are allergic to herbs from the mint family may suffer from its side effects, such as skin irritation, rashes and vomiting. It is useful in more ways than one, if it's used in the right quantities.